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Destination Zones

Latest release
Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS)
Cite
Reference period
Edition 4, July 2026 - June 2031

Destination Zones (DZN) are co-designed with Australian state and territory transport authorities for the analysis of Place of Work data from the Census of Population and Housing. Built from whole Mesh Blocks, Destination Zones aggregate to Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2), but do not align to Statistical Areas Level 1 (SA1).

Destination Zones are designed every five years and used to inform commuting patterns, and the development of transport policy. Census 2026 Place of Work data is coded to ASGS Edition 4 (2026) Destination Zones. 

There are 9,591 Destination Zones covering the whole of Australia without gaps or overlaps. This includes 22 non-spatial special purpose codes. More information is available in the DZN coding structure section below.

Destination Zones align to SA2s, which allows data from different sources to be comparable at this level. It also allows Destination Zones to be aggregated to any level of the ASGS that is an aggregation of SA2s. This includes: 

  • Statistical Areas Level 3
  • Statistical Areas Level 4
  • Significant Urban Areas
  • Greater Capital City Statistical Areas
  • State and Territories
  • Australia.

DZN design criteria

ASGS Edition 4 (2026) Destination Zones (DZN) are based on ASGS Edition 3 (2021) Destination Zones and were initially created by allocating the 2021 Destination Zones to 2026 Mesh Blocks. 2026 Destination Zones were then created in high growth areas. A draft set of 2026 Destination Zones was supplied to each Australian state and territory transport authority for review.

DZN name criteria

Destination Zones (DZN) do not have names.

DZN coding structure

Destination Zones (DZN) are identified by unique 9-digit codes consisting of a 1-digit state or territory identifier, a 4-digit SA2 identifier and a 4-digit Destination Zone identifier as shown below. Destination Zone identifiers are unique within each state and territory.

DZN coding structure example for 111728922
S/TSA2DZN
111728922

Codes may not match those used in previous editions of the ASGS as Destination Zones can be abolished, or boundaries adjusted, or new boundaries created over time.

A geographic correspondence file enabling the conversion of data from ASGS Edition 3 (2021) to ASGS Edition 4 (2026) is available in the access and downloads section of this publication.

Special purpose codes are included as balancing items. Mesh Blocks allocated to these codes are not part of any Destination Zones.

  • 9799 for people coded to Migratory, Offshore, and Shipping Mesh Blocks.
  • 9499 for people coded to Place of Work No Fixed Address Mesh Blocks.
  • ZZZZZZZZZ for people coded to Outside Australia.
DZN coding structure example for Place of Work No Fixed Address (NSW) 194999499
S/TSA2DZN
194999499

Three additional special purpose codes apply to Destination Zones. These are Australia wide and as a result, a State and Territories identifier of 0 is used:

  • 0&&&&&&&& for people coded to Place of Work not stated.
  • 0@@@@@@@@ for people coded to Place of Work not applicable.
  • 0VVVVVVVV for people coded to Overseas visitor.
DZN coding structure example for Place of Work not stated 0&&&&&&&&
S/TSA2DZN
0&&&&&&&&

Special purpose codes are described in more detail in the Main Structure and Greater Capital City Statistical Areas section of this publication.